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Excellent place to stay next to Scott Arms pub in lovely village. Quiet and lovely garden to sit out in good weather. 2 good size bedrooms, although bathroom downstairs. Plenty of supplies including some games, and well equipped kitchen, although eating put next door at Scott Arms is tempting. Great walks on your doorstep. Recommended.

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Yes.

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Families with young children

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Lovely character cottage, with tasteful decor, comprising two large bedrooms and a very roomy ground floor. We loved the general feel of the place, and it was ideal for us and our two dogs. The garden is lovely, with decking and garden furniture. The view is wonderful - over the valley and towards Corfe Castle.

Efficient central heating, with bonus of two open fires.

A downside was that it since it was was quite chilly in the evenings, the front porch was cold (no heating there) and hence there was a draught from the closed door when sitting on the sofa.

Some people may not like the fact that it doesn't have an ensuite bathroom/shower/loo - this is on the ground floor (the bedrooms are upstairs).

We loved our stay there, however, and hope to return one day ...

How easy was it to book the property?

How helpful were the directions to the property?

How easy was key pickup/access to the property?

Overall condition of the property

Bedding & mattresses

Kitchen & utensils

Bathroom cleanliness

Other facilities & amenities

Service

Liked best:The roominess and comfort of the property, the efficient central heating, the view from the garden.

Liked least:Noise from lorries on the main road. Draught from front porch.

Travelling group:Spouse/Partner

Would you recommend this hotel to a friend?
Yes.

Recommended for:

People with pets

Was the property as advertised?

Would you recommend the location of this property?

Was it a good value for the price paid?

Did the property offer wi-fi/internet access?

Was this review helpful? Yes

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Management Response

24 Apr 2016

Thanks for the comment about the draught from the porch, I shall look into a solution for that. Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay! Cheryl

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Brilliantly situated in the lovely village of Kingston, with stunning views over Corfe Castle and Poole harbour beyond, The old Reading Room is the perfect base from which to explore the Isle of Purbeck. The cottage has a lovely homely feel, is generous in size, warm, comfortable and has the added advantages of a large garden and useful conservatory for rainy days. We spent a fantastic day walking to Swanage over Corfe Common and Nine Barrow Down, then caught the steam train back to Corfe along the Swanage Railway line in time for a fantastic cream tea at the National Trust teashop. There is also a very convenient footpath to the coast where we walked around the spectacular St Aldhelms head and back to Worth Maltravers for a pint and pasty at the Square and Compass. The only thing that lets the cottage down is that it's become a little shabby and could use some TLC, however maybe this just adds to it's charm. We would certainly stay there again.

Travelling group:Friends

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Yes.

Was this review helpful? Yes

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

We are 2 couples who live far apart, but meet up every year for a long weekend to catch up, do some walking...and relaxing. The location was perfect for us. There are footpaths directly from the village leading to the coastal path or across fields to other villages and the hills above Corfe. The Scott Arms just across the road serves good food, real ale and has a friendly atmosphere. We didn't use the car at all.

The cottage itself is cosy and charming with flagstone floors and an eclectic mix of antique and other furnishings that makes it feel very homely. The kitchen is well equipped and has a large fridge/freezer (but no space for a dishwasher). The bathroom is downstairs and has been recently and stylishly refurbished. There are separate staircases to the 2 bedrooms. The staircase to the second bedroom is very steep - more like a ladder in fact ! (For small children this can be closed off with a stair gate and access gained through the interconnecting door).

The conservatory has a large table and would be a good place to eat, but it is not heated, so we ate in the dining room. Instead the conservatory proved the ideal place to leave our walking gear and put on outer layers before exiting via the back gate. The garden slopes away from the house and has a decking area with garden furniture and fabulous views across the valley to Corfe Castle. We all wanted to come back in warmer weather to enjoy the view!

How easy was it to book the property?

How helpful were the directions to the property?

How easy was key pickup/access to the property?

Overall condition of the property

Bedding & mattresses

Kitchen & utensils

Bathroom cleanliness

Other facilities & amenities

Service

Travelling group:Spouse/Partner

Would you recommend this hotel to a friend?
Yes.

Recommended for:

Friends getaway

Families with young children

People with pets

Was the property as advertised?

Would you recommend the location of this property?

Was it a good value for the price paid?

Did the property offer wi-fi/internet access?

Was this review helpful? Yes

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

A long weekend away with friends and 2 dogs. A perfect location for walks with an excellent pub The Scott Arms right across the road. Very warm and cosy. The second bedroom being very open plan was a bit noisy unless everyone went to bed at the same time. But all round a very cosy, warm cottage with an amazing garden. Everything was thought of for our stay. Thank you Cheryl.

How easy was it to book the property?

How helpful were the directions to the property?

How easy was key pickup/access to the property?

Overall condition of the property

Bedding & mattresses

Kitchen & utensils

Bathroom cleanliness

Other facilities & amenities

Service

Liked best:Warm, cosy and very comfortable.

Liked least:The 2nd bedroom was very open plan so noise was a factor.

Travelling group:Friends

Would you recommend this hotel to a friend?
Yes.

Recommended for:

Friends getaway

People with pets

Was the property as advertised?

Would you recommend the location of this property?

Was it a good value for the price paid?

Did the property offer wi-fi/internet access?

Was this review helpful? Yes

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

We spent a glorious holiday in this little cottage. Its small, stylish, cosy and perfectly located for both a quite time away from the bustle, or a relaxed time at the pub (you merely saunter across the street) or from which to explore the beautiful countryside, Corfe Castle nearby or fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast. Its a perfect recipe for a very special time. I loved the cottage and all its tasteful furnishings. The garden is brilliant for the kids and the grown ups with a gorgeous deck from which you can look down the valley to Corfe Castle and to the ocean. Just beautiful. I would highly recommend this little cottage: cosy, stylish, charming and perfect!